Holding Ground: Artists' Books for the National Museum of Women in the Arts

Book arts have always been at the heart of the collections of the Betty Boyd Dettre Library and Research Center (LRC) at NMWA. One year ago, to inaugurate the museum's new Learning Commons and its reinvigorated research center, the LRC invited nine established book artists to create works inspired by NMWAs mission.

Suzanne Coley standing in front of her artist's book, "In Bloom," 2023 exhibited near
Alma Woodsey Thomas, "Iris, Tulips, Jonquils, and Crocuses," 1969.

The artists were Alisa Banks, Adjoa J. Burrowes, Julie Chen, Suzanne Coley, IBé Crawley, Maricarmen Solis Diaz, Colette Fu, Kerry McAleer-Keeler, and María Verónica San Martín. They created compelling books inspired by spaces that foster women’s creative expression.

The year-long exhibit will come to an end this month on October 20. All the books in the exhibit will become part of the museum's permanent collection.

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Born of Love, Shakespeare's Sonnet 151

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Baltimore Sonnets

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